Nehemiah 9

1 with fasting, etc. This was not the day of Atonement, which fell on the tenth day of this month; but it was a special national fast, introductory to the solemn covenant which followed (ver. 38; ch. x.). One day only had intervened since the last of the Feast of Tabernacles.

15 promisedst. Rather, as R.V., “commandedst.”

17 appointed a captain, etc. “And appointed a captain to lead them back”: see Numb. xiv. 4.

21 forty years didst Thou sustain them in the wilderness. See Acts xiii. 21, which seems to be formed by combining the Septuagint rendering of this passage and Deut. i. 31.

22 into corners. Heb., “to the side”; i.e., by definite boundaries.

the land of Sihon, and, etc. Rather, “even the land of the king of Heshbon” (R.V.); for Sihon was king of Heshbon.

25 of all goods, wells digged, etc. R.V., “of all good things, cisterns hewn out,” etc. To find the means of constant water supply ready prepared for them was a most important advantage.

delighted themselves. Or, “gave themselves to pleasure”: see Isa. xlvii. 8. They delighted in the gifts they enjoyed, while they forgot the Giver (26).

27. Therefore Thou deliveredst them, etc. These confessions are affectingly illustrated by the whole history of the Israelites, especially by the Book of Judges—the brief summary of which, in ii. 11-23, greatly resembles this passage.

29 withdrew the shoulder, etc. These metaphors are taken from untrained or refractory oxen, which refuse the yoke: see Lech. vii. 11.

36 servants. That is, slaves (as the original denotes) in their own land to a foreign master. “As our fathers would not serve Thos, we have to serve the Persian king.”

37 it yieldeth much increase unto the kings. The tribute paid to the king of Persia was not only a heavy burden upon them in proportion to their means, but it was specially injurious to their interests; inasmuch as it was carried out of their own country, and spent in a foreign land.

38. And because of all this. The R.V. rendering, “And yet for all this,” is not an improvement. Because of past sins and the punishment they had suffered, they now pledged themselves to be faithful to God.